USEFUL LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (202) , 125-138
Abstract
Thirty-five patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were monitored clinically and serologically for up to 3.5 yr. The data collected was analyzed by computer using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Program. The patients were categorized into severely active, moderately active and inactive disease groups; associations between clinical state and laboratory tests were sought. No single tests was found to distinguish, reliably, the clinical groups, but levels of circulating immune complexes (by polyethylene glycol precipitation), platelet count and ESR [erythrocyte sedimentation rate] distinguished inactive from active disease (P < 0.05). Severely active disease was distinguished from the less active forms by circulating immune complex levels ([complement] Clq solid phase assay), double-stranded DNA binding, lymphocyte count and CH50 [total hemolytic complement] estimations (P < 0.05). Tests differed considerably in their ability to reflect disease activity when patients were separated into subgroups according to the major clinical features (e.g., arthralgia, renal disease and vasculitic rash). Those patients with cerebral manifestations and thrombocytopenia were the most difficult to assess. Discriminant function analysis showed that a maximum of 44% of cases could be correctly classified into their clinical grades when combinations of 4 of 5 laboratory tests were used. The continuing need for better tests to monitor the course of SLE was emphasized.